Apparatus and method for producing structures with multiple undercut stems
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A23P-001/00
B28B-007/20
B29B-007/00
출원번호
UP-0879169
(2007-07-16)
등록번호
US-7828545
(2010-11-25)
발명자
/ 주소
Duffy, Leonard Arnold
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
25
초록▼
A method is disclosed for producing structures having a plurality of stems extending away from a fenestrated base to undercut ends. Such structures include slidingly-engaging fastener portions, hook-and-loop hook portions, self-engaging fastener portions, and other structures with similar aspects. T
A method is disclosed for producing structures having a plurality of stems extending away from a fenestrated base to undercut ends. Such structures include slidingly-engaging fastener portions, hook-and-loop hook portions, self-engaging fastener portions, and other structures with similar aspects. The method includes providing a set of partially bypassing dies to define a fenestrated common cavity contiguous with pluralities of undercut stem chambers, filling the cavity with a moldable material, and ejecting the resultant product. The resultant product includes a plurality of undercut stems spaced away from a base with undersides projecting over fenestrations in the base.
대표청구항▼
Having thus described the invention, I hereby claim the following: 1. An apparatus for producing a structure which includes a plurality of stems, each stem contiguous with at least two undercut segments spaced away from and overhanging the adjacent fenestrations of a common fenestrated base, with a
Having thus described the invention, I hereby claim the following: 1. An apparatus for producing a structure which includes a plurality of stems, each stem contiguous with at least two undercut segments spaced away from and overhanging the adjacent fenestrations of a common fenestrated base, with a plurality of said stems associated with each fenestration, said apparatus comprising: a molding axis; a first die including at least one first cavity with a cavity opening, a cavity end generally perpendicular to said axis, a plurality of first cavity walls, and a plurality of first interfacing walls; a second die including at least one core correspondent to said first cavity with a core end generally perpendicular to said axis, a plurality of second cavity walls, and a plurality of second interfacing walls; and means for engaging said first die with said second die to produce a product of a moldable material inserted therebetween; said first die and said second die configured so that when they are engaged along said axis, a segment of said core partially bypasses said cavity opening so that said first interfacing walls and said cavity end respectively interface with said second interfacing walls and said core end to effect a segmented gate partially divided by stem chambers, each said stem chamber enclosed by portions of said first and said second cavity walls and extending to a terminal chamber also enclosed by said first and said second cavity walls with an underside coincident with a segment of said second cavity walls on said core end, so as to effect a common cavity with at least one block-out and a plurality of contiguous stem chambers extending away from said common cavity at the edge of said block-out, each said stem chamber extending to a terminal chamber with an underside extending over said block-out; and wherein said first and second die cavities are configured to form said structure; thereby, filling said cavity with said moldable material and engaging said dies by said means produces said structure. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for engaging said first and second dies comprises a reciprocating injection molding machine and said moldable material is a plastic resin; thereby injection molding said product. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first die is a segment of a larger third die and said second die is a segment of a larger fourth die, said third die and said fourth die for producing a product having at least one segment with stems extending therefrom to undercut ends projecting over fenestrations therein corresponding with said first and said second dies; thereby integrally molding said structure with undercut segments and stems within a larger molded structure. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first die includes at least three adjacent said cavities and said second die includes at least three adjacent said cores, wherein each said stem chamber is also partially enclosed by the cavity walls of each adjacent said core, and each said stem chamber extends to a terminal chamber having undersides generally coincident with the core ends of each adjacent said core so that each said terminal chamber communicates with the cavity of a subsequent row of said dies; thereby producing an embodiment of said structure with a stepped longitudinal profile, whereby a unidirectional slidingly engaging fastener portion is produced. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first die also includes at least one core segment and said second die also includes at least one cavity segment corresponding to said core segment, so that engaging said dies along said axis by said means effects a contiguous cavity comprising a generally planar fenestrated common cavity with a plurality of stem chambers extending away from each surface thereof to a plurality of corresponding undercut terminal chambers each projecting over a said block-out region of said common cavity; thereby, upon filling said cavity with said material, curing said material, and ejecting said product, producing a double-sided embodiment of said structure with a plurality of stems with associated undercut segments extending from each of two opposite surfaces thereof. 6. A method for producing a structure which includes a plurality of stems, each stem contiguous with at least two undercut segments spaced away from and overhanging the adjacent fenestrations of a common fenestrated base, with a plurality of said stems associated with each fenestration, said method comprising: a. providing an apparatus in accordance with claim 1; b. engaging said first and said second dies by said means to define a cavity comprising a common cavity with at least one block-out corresponding to the base of said at least one core, and a plurality of stem chambers surrounding said core each extending away from said common cavity to a terminal chamber with an underside projecting over a portion of said block-out so that said cavity is configured to form said structure; c. inserting said moldable material into said cavity by said means for engaging and producing; d. curing said material as required for molding such material; and e. ejecting the resultant product from said apparatus, thereby producing said structure. 7. A method for producing a slidingly engaging fastener portion which includes a plurality of stems, each stem contiguous with at least two undercut segments spaced away from and overhanging the adjacent fenestrations of a common fenestrated base, with a plurality of said stems associated with each fenestration, said method comprising: a. providing an apparatus according to claim 1; b. engaging said first and said second dies by said means to define a cavity comprising a common cavity with at least one block-out corresponding to the base of said at least one core, and a plurality of stem chambers surrounding said core each extending away from said common cavity to a terminal chamber with an underside projecting over a portion of said block-out so that said first and second die cavities are configured to form said slidingly engaging fastener portion; c. inserting said moldable material into said cavity by said means for engaging and producing; d. curing said material as required for molding such material so as to produce said fastener portion; and e. ejecting the resultant product from said apparatus. 8. A method for producing a self-engaging fastener portion including a plurality of stems, each stem contiguous with at least two undercut segments spaced away from and overhanging the adjacent fenestrations of a common fenestrated base, with a plurality of said stems associated with each fenestration, said method comprising: a. providing an apparatus according to claim 1; b. engaging said first and said second dies by said means to define a cavity comprising a common cavity with at least one block-out corresponding to the base of said at least one core, and a plurality of stem chambers surrounding said core each extending away from said common cavity to a terminal chamber with a segmented underside projecting over a portion of said block-out, whereby said common cavity defines said fastener portion; c. inserting said moldable material into said cavity by said means for engaging and producing; d. curing said material as required for molding such material; and e. ejecting the resultant product from said apparatus, thereby producing said self-engaging fastener portion. 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each said terminal chamber is contiguous with at least one adjacent said terminal chamber, thereby producing a structure with segmented undercut segments. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes a plurality of said undercut segments contiguous with each singular stem. 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said structure includes sets of said undercut segments interspersed between sets of said stems, whereby effecting a plurality of segmented islands. 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base, stems and undercut segments of said structure are generally uniform in thickness. 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said undercut segments are configured to provide a unidirectionally engaging fastening portion. 14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said undercut segments are configured to provide a multi-directionally engaging fastener portion. 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said core end and said cavity end is oblique to said axis. 16. An apparatus for producing a structure, said structure having a plurality of undercut segments overhanging each of a plurality of fenestrations, each fenestration bounded at least in part by at least one stem projecting from a fenestrated common base to a plurality of said undercut segments, wherein each said stem is associated with multiple undercut segments and with multiple fenestrations and wherein said stems and undercut segments are configured to receive and fasten, with another portion of said structure; said apparatus comprising: a molding axis; a first die including at least one cavity; a second die including at least two core segments; means for engaging said first and second dies to produce a product; said first and second dies configured so that engaging said dies along said axis effects a contiguous cavity comprising a generally planar common cavity surrounding each said core and a plurality of stem cavities adjacent to each said core each extending away from said common cavity to a terminal chamber with at least one underside generally perpendicular to said axis extending over a surface segment of said core; and wherein said first and second die cavities are configured to form said structure; thereby, filling said cavity with a moldable material by said means produces said structure comprising a plurality of undercut stems with undersides extending over each fenestration of a common fenestrated base. 17. An apparatus for molding a structure that includes a base having a plurality of fenestrations and further includes a plurality of islands integral with the base, each of the plurality of islands having a plurality of undercut segments overhanging each adjacent fenestration, said apparatus comprising: a first die according to claim 16 having a molding axis and a plurality of gates each defining a corresponding one of the fenestrations and at least a portion of one of the plurality of undercut segments, each of said plurality of gates having a contact surface substantially perpendicular to said first molding axis; a second die according to claim 16 having a plurality of contact regions each for engaging a corresponding one of said plurality of gates at said first surface; and a mechanism for engaging said first die and said second die with one another substantially along said molding axis such that said contact surface of said first die engages said contact region of said second die. 18. A method of molding a structure, said structure having a plurality of undercut segments overhanging each of a plurality of fenestrations, each fenestration bounded at least in part by at least one stem projecting from a fenestrated common base to a plurality of said undercut segments, wherein each said stem is associated with multiple undercut segments and with multiple fenestrations and wherein said stems and undercut segments are configured to receive and fasten with another portion of said structure; said method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus according to claim 16 and engaging said first die and said second die with one another substantially along said molding axis such that a contact surface of said first die engages with a contact region of said second die so that the common cavity defined by said first and second dies is configured to form said structure; inserting and hardening said moldable material; and disengaging said dies to extract said structure. 19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein each said terminal chamber is contiguous with at least one adjacent said terminal chamber, thereby producing a structure with segmented undercut segments. 20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein, said structure includes at least one stem with undercut segments extending away from the fenestrated base in a first direction and at least one stem with undercut segments extending away from the fenestrated base in a second direction, opposite said first direction; and wherein said first die also includes core segments and said second die also includes at least one cavity; whereby a double-sided fastening portion is produced. 21. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each singular stem of said structure is contiguous with multiple undercut segments. 22. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each singular stem of said structure is located between two undercut segments and is distinct from adjacent stems associated with each contiguous set of undercut segments. 23. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said core segments are arrayed in rows, the terminal chambers of each said row of core segments extending in a generally planar direction perpendicular to said row of core segments into a portion of said common cavity associated with a subsequent row of core segments; whereby an embodiment of said structure with a stepped profile is produced. 24. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said core end and said cavity end is oblique to said axis. 25. An apparatus for producing an integral fastening zone within a molded component, wherein said fastening zone includes at least two groups of associated undercut segments interspersed between multiple fenestrations, each said group having at least one stem and at least one undercut segment extending over each adjacent fenestration, and wherein each said group is contiguous with at least one said stem, and each said fenestration is associated with at least two said stems; said apparatus comprising: a first die including a common cavity defining said molded component also having at least two cavity openings, each with a cavity end, a plurality of first stem cavity walls, and a plurality of first gate walls; a second die including at least two cores, each with a core end corresponding to each said cavity opening and cavity end, a plurality of second gate walls, a plurality of second stem cavity walls generally parallel with a molding axis, and a plurality of terminal chamber walls; and means for injecting and curing a moldable material and ejecting a resultant product; said first and second dies configured so that when they are engaged along said molding axis each said core partially bypasses each said cavity opening, said first and second gate walls engage around a blocked-out region defined by each said core to effect a gate surrounded by said common cavity, and said first and second stem walls define at least one stem chamber extending away from said common cavity, continuing to a terminal chamber defined by said terminal chamber walls and at least a portion of said core end; and wherein said first and second die cavities are configured to form said integral fastening zone; whereby, said resultant product comprises said molded component with said integral fastening zone. 26. A method for integrating a fastening zone within a molded component, wherein said fastening zone includes at least two groups of associated undercut segments interspersed between multiple fenestrations, each said group having at least one stem and at least one undercut segment extending over each adjacent fenestration, and wherein each said group is contiguous with at least one said stem, and each said fenestration is associated with at least two said stems; said method comprising the steps of: a. incorporating the apparatus of claim 25 within an injection molding apparatus for producing said molded component so that said cavity is contiguous with a primary cavity for producing said molded component, and said cavity is configured to form said integral fastening zone; b. engaging said apparatus along said axis; c. injecting a moldable material into said cavity; d. curing and ejecting the resultant product; thereby producing said molded component including said integral fastening zone.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (25)
Fischer James R. (Sheboygan WI), Apparatus for making a separable fastener.
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